Unified and automated installation, deployment, configuration, and management of software-defined storage assets

• US 10,708,135 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2019
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Elliott, IV, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Jonathan A
• Application Number:
  US16/263,721
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5005 to service a request
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A consumption request, comprising a stack parameter and a resource characteristic parameter, is accessed. The stack parameter specifies at least one type of storage asset that is requested. The resource characteristic parameter specifies at least one functional capability required of the storage asset. Based on the stack parameter, a set of one or more first storage assets able to satisfy the consumption request, is determined. For each first storage asset in the set that is not deployed, a first workflow is generated, the first workflow configured to deploy the respective first storage asset in the set that is not deployed. For each second storage asset in the set that lacks the resource characteristic parameter, a second workflow, configured to implement that resource characteristic in the respective second storage asset, is generated. The set of storage assets is configured to satisfy the consumption request, by miming the first and second workflows.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for deploying storage assets, the method comprising:

accessing a consumption request to consume storage assets, the consumption request comprising a stack parameter and a resource characteristic parameter, wherein the stack parameter specifies at least one type of storage asset that is requested, and the resource characteristic parameter specifies at least one functional capability required of the storage asset;

determining, based on the stack parameter, a set of one or more first storage assets able to satisfy the consumption request;

for each first storage asset in the set that is not deployed, generating a first workflow configured to deploy the respective first storage asset in the set that is not deployed;

for each second storage asset in the set that lacks the resource characteristic parameter, generating a second workflow configured to implement that resource characteristic in the respective second storage asset; and

configuring the set of storage assets to satisfy the consumption request, wherein the configuring comprises running the first and second workflows.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a third storage asset resource can be created to satisfy the consumption request; and

generating a third workflow configured to create and deploy the third storage asset resource.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the third storage asset resource is formed within at least one of the first and second storage assets.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the consumption request is for provisioning a fileshare, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

contacting one or more LINUX hosts to determine and store host information;

registering the one or more LINUX hosts;

requesting deployment of a predetermined type of storage assets as respective services; and

creating a corresponding fileshare.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the consumption request comprises a query, including query parameters, relating to a search of an inventory of the storage assets, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

pre-defining a set of templates applicable to the storage assets, each respective template comprising configuration of the respective storage asset and prerequisites to deploy the storage asset; and

generating a rules set configured to execute on an inventory of storage assets, the rules set configured to determine, based on one or more rules in the rule set, if a template is achievable for a given storage asset.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a list of deployment templates applicable to the storage assets, the list generated in view of the rules set, wherein the list of deployment templates comprises at least one of:

reason why a first portion of the list of deployment templates can be deployed; and

reasons why a second portion of the list of deployment templates cannot be deployed.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the storage assets comprise software-defined storage assets.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the computer-implemented method executes in a cloud-native environment.

9. A system, comprising;

a processor; and

a non-volatile memory in operable communication with the processor and storing computer program code that when executed on the processor causes the processor to execute a process operable to perform the operations of;

accessing a consumption request to consume storage assets, the consumption request comprising a stack parameter and a resource characteristic parameter, wherein the stack parameter specifies at least one type of storage asset that is requested, and the resource characteristic parameter specifies at least one functional capability required of the storage asset;

determining, based on the stack parameter, a set of one or more first storage assets able to satisfy the consumption request;

for each first storage asset in the set that is not deployed, generating a first workflow configured to deploy the respective first storage asset in the set that is not deployed;

for each second storage asset in the set that lacks the resource characteristic parameter, generating a second workflow configured to implement that resource characteristic in the respective second storage asset; and

configuring the set of storage assets to satisfy the consumption request, wherein the configuring comprises running the first and second workflows.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising computer program code that when executed on the processor causes the processor to perform the operations of:

determining that a third storage asset resource can be created to satisfy the consumption request; and

generating a third workflow configured to create and deploy the third storage asset resource.

11. The computer-implemented algorithm of claim 10, wherein the third storage asset resource is formed within at least one of the first and second storage assets.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the consumption request comprises a query, including query parameters, relating to a search of an inventory of the storage assets, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises computer program code that when executed on the processor causes the processor to perform the following actions:

pre-defining a set of templates applicable to the storage assets, each respective template comprising configuration of the respective storage asset and prerequisites to deploy the storage asset; and

generating a rules set configured to execute on an inventory of storage assets, the rules set configured to determine, based on one or more rules in the rule set, if a template is achievable for a given storage asset.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising computer program code that when executed on the processor causes the processor to perform the operations of:

receiving a list of deployment templates applicable to the storage assets, the list generated in view of the rules set, wherein the list of deployment templates comprises at least one of;

reasons why a first portion of the list of deployment templates can be deployed; and

reasons why a second portion of the list of deployment templates cannot be deployed.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the storage assets comprise software-defined storage assets.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the computer program code executes in a cloud-native environment.

16. A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program code encoded thereon that when executed on a processor of a computer causes the computer to operate a storage system, the computer program product comprising:

computer program code for accessing a consumption request to consume storage assets, the consumption request comprising a stack parameter and a resource characteristic parameter, wherein the stack parameter specifies at least one type of storage asset that is requested, and the resource characteristic parameter specifies at least one functional capability required of the storage asset;

computer program code for determining, based on the stack parameter, a set of one or more first storage assets able to satisfy the consumption request;

computer program code for generating, for each first storage asset in the set that is not deployed, a first workflow configured to deploy the respective first storage asset in the set that is not deployed;

computer program code for generating, for each second storage asset in the set that lacks the resource characteristic parameter, a second workflow configured to implement that resource characteristic in the respective second storage asset; and

computer program code for configuring the set of storage assets to satisfy the consumption request, wherein the configuring comprises running the first and second workflows.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

computer program code for determining that a third storage asset resource can be created to satisfy the consumption request; and

computer program code for generating a third workflow configured to create and deploy the third storage asset resource.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the consumption request comprises a query, including query parameters, relating to a search of an inventory of the storage assets, and further comprising:

computer program code for pre-defining a set of templates applicable to the storage assets, each respective template comprising configuration of the respective storage asset and prerequisites to deploy the storage asset; and

computer program code for generating a rules set configured to execute on an inventory of storage assets, the rules set configured to determine, based on one or more rules in the rule set, if a template is achievable for a given storage asset.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising computer program code for receiving a list of deployment templates applicable to the storage assets, the list generated in view of the rules set, wherein the list of deployment templates comprises at least one of:

reason why a first portion of the list of deployment templates can be deployed; and

reasons why a second portion of the list of deployment templates cannot be deployed.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the storage assets comprise software-defined storage assets.